It’s important to understand how to manage any potential fear and uncertainty in order to protect your mental health. Anxiety makes you feel worried, fearful or nervous. It’s natural to be anxious - but if the feelings don’t go away, get worse or have no particular cause, they can become a problem.
There are different types of anxiety - including panic attacks, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. But here are some common symptoms for them all:
- Racing thoughts
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of dread
- Irritability
- Sleep and appetite problems
- Fast breathing and heartbeat
- Hot flushes or blushing
- Dry mouth
- Shaking
- Extreme tiredness or lack of energy
- Dizziness and fainting
- Stomach aches and sickness
Many people use self-help methods to manage their anxiety, which you can find out more about on the Mental Health UK website. There are also a range of approaches for treatment and management of anxiety disorders, such as talking therapy, but the most appropriate method will vary depending on the type and severity of anxiety disorder, and personal circumstances. You can also tackle anxiety with medication, and both of these options are available on the NHS.
If you have any symptoms described above, it’s a good idea to talk to your GP.
Mental Health UK have also developed some useful information and tips to help people manage their health during the coronavirus outbreak.